King Bharat
According to our ancient scriptures, three strong fetters of mind, keep the immortal soul (Atma), in perpetual bondage with this transitory world. They are: i) progeny, ii) wealth and iii) name-fame and recognition. Of these, the desire for name and fame is the subtlest, predominant and hard to get over.
There is an inspiring anecdote in the annals of Jain history. Bharat, the first sovereign emperor of India, whose name this country bears, having conquered all the kingdoms of the sub-continent, finally reached Rishabhkoot mountain to hoist his victory flag and inscribe on victory pillar --- his name, bio-data and a brief description of this remarkable event. Thereby he wanted to satisfy his desire for name and immortalise his glory and fame.
After reaching there, he looked around and found that there were already inscribed thousands of names of prominent peoples of yore, and there was no space left even to chisel a few letters of his own name, not to speak of the narration of his glorious achievements.
He thought --- why not erase someone's name engraved in its place? At his command, it was done so.
But no sooner than the task was completed, a ray of conscience flashed in his heart. The emperor thought, "Today I have erased someone's name, but tomorrow someone else may come and erase my name too. This is how, it is all merely a play of ego. The egoism in the form of desire to immortalise one's name, keeps people behaving in various strange ways. Nobody's name can remain immortal and indelible on the vast canvas of time and space."
Thus, the desire for name and fame vanished forever from the heart and soul of the monarch.
